Sanctuary Academic Scholarships

South East Technological University supports the University of Sanctuary initiative which aims to welcome refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants into our college community, and to foster a culture of welcome and inclusion for all those seeking sanctuary.

SETU has a strong track record of contributing towards diversity, inclusion and internationalisation in higher education, having been a leading Institute in internationalisation within the University for almost two decades.

The University has a long tradition of reaching out to and supporting migrant and refugee students in its local area. The Office for International Relations was a lead contributor to the development of standards in the provision of higher education for international students, and served for many years on the Executive Committee of the Irish Council for Overseas Students which is an advocacy body for all overseas students.

You are eligible to apply for a Sanctuary Scholarship if you meet the following criteria:

• Are a non-EU citizen who is an International Protection Applicant (person seeking asylum) and not eligible for state support, (meaning ‘free fees’, the state Student Support Scheme for people in the International Protection System, SUSI grant, social welfare payments)

        or

• Are a non-EU citizen with Permission to Remain, Subsidiary Protection, Family Reunification, or Refugee Status and not eligible for state support and designated as Non-EU fee status
• All applicants must have been offered a programme to study at a SETU campus through the CAO process.
• Applicants must be registered with the Department of Justice and documentation of status will be required. You must include evidence of your status (e.g., a copy of the letter issued to you from the Department of Justice and Equality confirming details of your permission to reside in Ireland or your Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services card.)
• Students must commence their course of study and be a registered student at SETU for the scholarship to become valid.

Note: Priority is given to students residing within a commutable distance of the campus on which the course they wish to pursue is being offered. (In this regard, a commutable distance is defined as within approximately 45km of the relevant campus)

1. The SETU University of Sanctuary scholarship programme is funded by SETU and aims to support excellent students who wish to access SETU’s programmes of study.
2. These scholarships are open to refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants in the south east of Ireland or who are separated/unaccompanied minors who are in the care of the Child and Family Agency/HSE in the south east of Ireland.
3. In order to be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must:
   1. have applied through the standard application routes for entry to SETU;
      1. for new entrants to undergraduate programmes, must have applied for entry through the Central Applications Office (CAO) before the normal closing date of application (see www.cao.ie), and must have selected an SETU programme as their CAO preference by the CAO change of mind date;
      2. for continuing students, must be in good standing on their current academic programme and eligible for progression to the next year; In extenuating circumstances repeat students may be considered on a case by case basis for support.
   2. must meet the entry requirements of the programme applied for including specific programme entry requirements as outlined in SETU’s prospectus, which is also detailed online at www.setu.ie;
       
   3. must satisfy the English language requirements of their chosen programme;
   4. must provide evidence of status (e.g. a copy of the letter issued from the Department of Justice and Equality confirming details of permission to reside in Ireland or an Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services card);
   5. must provide evidence of an address in the south east of Ireland;
   6. must provide evidence of academic achievement to date along with a supporting reference.
4. Only completed applications received before the scholarship closing date will be considered.
5. Successful candidates will be selected solely on the basis of academic merit.
6. Scholarship will pay all fees (tuition & registration). The scholarship will also award a financial support stipend of €1200 payable in two installments the start of each semester (i.e. September and January). The issued scholarship will be deducted from the University fee account. In order to maintain a scholarship, applicants will need to reapply in the following year. These scholarships do not cover costs associated with repeating the programme, or costs associated with carrying out repeat examinations or assessments. In the event that the recipient becomes eligible for a grant to support higher education studies and is successful in their grant application the scholarship will cease.
7. Enrolment on an SETU programme is without prejudice to an application for International Protection (asylum) and cannot be used as a basis for seeking to stay in the country in cases where the Protection Application is refused.
8. SETU reserves the right to make the SETU Sanctuary Scholarship programme applicable to certain SETU academic programmes.
9. The SETU University of Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme applies to entry into SETU programmes for the upcoming academic year only.
10. Once scholarship awards are issued, students must accept their offer within two weeks of notification. It is the student’s responsibility to formally accept the scholarship offer, a non-response will be considered as declining the offer.
11. A student who declines an initial offer of admission and accompanying scholarship offer will not retain his/her scholarship offer if he/she reapplies at a later date.
12. A student who withdraws, cancels or becomes inactive, enrolls less than full-time, is suspended, or dismissed from the University will lose his/her scholarship eligibility. A student who takes such a status due to medical reasons may appeal in writing to Scholarship Committee to have his/her scholarship reinstated. The appeal must be submitted with supporting documentation, such as a letter from a doctor. In such a case, for there to be a possibility for reinstatement, a student’s leave from the University cannot exceed two consecutive semesters.
13. SETU encourages all scholarship holders to become involved in the student, sporting and cultural life whilst at SETU. Scholarship students may be encouraged to participate in student panels, focus groups, write blogs, and partake in other activities as requested from time to time by the University of Sanctuary committee and other offices of the University. On completion of their programme of study, scholarship students who participated in the above-mentioned activities will receive a letter of reference from the Sanctuary committee.

Step 1

For Year 1 Students: You must apply for a SETU course through the CAO at www.cao.ie by 1 May. Note that applicants can still change their order of preference up until 1 July.

For Continuing Students: You must be eligible to progress to the next year of your SETU course.
 

Step 2

• Apply for the SETU Institute of Sanctuary Scholarship before September of the year your course is due to start.
• Complete the online application in full.
• Please also include the name and email address of your referee(s) as they will be contacted to provide a reference to support your application.

Step 3

All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email (to the email address provided on the application form) before the start of the new academic year.

Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Sanctuary scholarships are open to both new CAO entrants and continuing students. For a full list of criteria and how to apply, please read the details carefully. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected].